2023 Milano-Sanremo Race Preview
The details of this year's 2023 Milano-Sanremo are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The spring classics season gets underway in earnest with the first monument of the year, and as ever the race from Milan to the Ligurian coast promises a fascinating tactical battle across more than 290 kilometres of racing. La Primavera, as it is affectionately known, is the longest one-day race on the professional calendar, and its sheer length means that even the most defensively minded peloton tends to arrive at the finale with a sizeable group still in contention.
The race follows its traditional route, winding south through Lombardy before hitting the Ligurian coast and turning west towards Sanremo. The key climbs come in the final stretch, with the Cipressa arriving around 23 kilometres from the finish and the fearsome Poggio di Sanremo providing the last real opportunity for the pure climbers and puncheurs to shed the sprinters before the descent into town. Getting over the Poggio with a small group is the ambition of virtually every favourite, though history shows that the descent is notoriously difficult to navigate without being caught, and a reduced sprint remains a common outcome.
Defending champion Matej Mohoric will be eager to repeat his stunning solo effort from 2022, but the Slovenian will face fierce competition. Tadej Pogacar arrives as one of the most heavily backed favourites in recent memory, his all-round ability making him a genuine threat whether the race comes down to a sprint from a small group or a late solo attack. The UAE Team Emirates leader has shown an aggressive racing style that suits this kind of finale perfectly.
Wout van Aert is another obvious danger. The Belgian has been agonisingly close at this race before and possesses both the climbing ability to survive the Poggio and the finishing speed to win from a small group. His Jumbo-Visma team will likely play a significant role in shaping how the finale unfolds, and his presence alone forces rivals into making difficult decisions about when and whether to attack.
Jasper Stuyven, who won the race in 2021, is capable of producing another surprise result and represents an interesting pick for those who believe the race will come down to a late move on the descent or lower slopes. Meanwhile Filippo Ganna, racing on home roads, will attract enormous local support, though his diesel engine and time trial specialist profile make it difficult to see how he wins unless the race comes back together entirely.
Van der Poel and Alaphilippe are further names that cannot be ignored. Van der Poel's unpredictability and raw power make him dangerous in any scenario, while Julian Alaphilippe has the Poggio climbing profile that this race seems to have been designed for, even if converting that into a win has so far eluded him at Sanremo specifically.
The weather looks set to play a role as it so often does in mid-March, with cool temperatures and potentially difficult conditions along the coastal road adding another layer of uncertainty. Teams will spend much of the early hours conserving energy and protecting their leaders before the racing truly ignites in the final 50 kilometres. Expect attacks on the Cipressa to test the sprinters, renewed aggression over the Poggio, and a finish that will have fans on the edge of their seats regardless of how it unfolds.
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